Valve-operating mechanism.



No. 643,905. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

' A. N. LOCKE.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

A TTOHNEYS.

"n4: NORM! vrrzns co., PHQTO-LIYHO. WASHINGTON, n c.

No. 643,905. Patented Feb. 20, I900. A. N. LOCKE;

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1899.) (Ila Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/T/VESSES //VVENT0/? M low A TTOHNEY.

m: Moms PETERS co. PHOTO-LITFO-y WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 643,905. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

. A. N. LOCKE.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

- (Application filed 0a. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT NATHAN LOCKE, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,905, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed October 17, 1899. Serial No. 733,875. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LALBERT NATHAN LOCKE, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Valve-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to means and mechanism for operating valves of various kinds, but particularly the valves of steam-pipes connected with steam-engines.

The objects of my invention are to produce a means, preferably electrically controlled, by which the main valve or throttle-valve of a steam-pipe may be closed at a distance from the valve; also, to provide means for closing the valvein case the steam-pipe should burst, to provide a convenient means for operating at a distance the various kinds of valves, either automatically or by electrical control, and in general to make the mechanism as simple and efficient as possible.

To these ends my invention consists of certain valve-controlling mechanism, the construction of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the mechanism, showing it in connection with an en gine-cylinder and controlled by an electric circuit. Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken elevation of a modified form of the mechanism connected to the throttle-valve of an engine. Fig. 4 shows another modification of the device, partly in section, as applied to the balance- Valve. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the mechanism as applied to a steam-operated valve, and Fig. 6 is a detail viewillustrating another modification of my invention as applied to a Corliss engine-governor.

The engine-cylinder 10 and steam-supply pipe 11, which is controlled by the valve 12, may be of the ordinary type, and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the rotary valve-stem 13 is provided with a hand-wheel 14, so that it may be hand-operated, as usual, and is also provided with a pinion 15, which is fixed to the stem and which meshes with a vertically-movable rack 16, which is pivotally connected to a slide-rod 17, this being normally pushed downward by a Weight 18, which as shown is at the top of the slide-rod; but it may be connected in any customary way, and the sliderod moves through guide-arms 19 and 20, which arms may be secured to any convenient support, but as illustrated are fastened to the steam-pipe 11. On the lower arm 20 is a bracket 21, in which is pivoted a rotary cam 22, one end 23 of which engages a lug 24* on the sliderod 17, and so holds up the rod against the tension of the weight 18, while the other end of the cam 25 engages a lug 26 on the swinging arm 27, which is pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 28, on the arm 20 and at its upper end is made to engage the latch 29, forming apart of the armature 29, which armature is pivoted on the support 30 and arranged opposite an ordinary electromagnet 31. This magnet is provided with the customary binding-posts 32, and these lat-- ter connect by wires a and a with a battery 33, the battery including a push-button 34. Of course any suitable means of electrical supply can be substituted for the battery, and it will be seen that when the valve is open and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 the slide-rods 17 will be held up by the cam 22, the arm 27, and the latch 29. If, how ever, it becomes necessary to close the valve quickly from a distance so as tostop the engine, the push-button 24. is moved, thus closing the circuit through the magnet 31, which lifts the armature 29 and releases the arm 27, whereupon the Weight 18 moves down the slide-rod 17 and causes the lug 24c" to act on the cam 22, so as to turn the cam,which, acting on the arm 27, throws it out of the wayof the latch 29 and magnet 31, so that the arm cannot be again caught by the latch when the circuit is open. The continued downward movement of the weight and its rod 17 will act on the rack 16 and pinion 15, and so turn the valve-stem and close the valve.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly-modified form in which a cylinder 10 of an automatic engine has the usual steam-pipe 11 connected to it, and on the valve-stem 36 of the throttlevalve 37 is a spool 35, which is held in position to keep the valve open by a key of soft material-such as lead, for instance-which is pushed into a slot in the edge of the spool and in an adjacent bracket 35 or other fixture. On the spool is wound one end of a cord or cable 3S,which extends over suitable guidepulleys 39 and is attached to one end of a slide-rod 40, which is normally pushed down by the weight 41. The slide-rod runs through suitable guide-arms 42, these corresponding to the arms 19 and 20, already referred to, and the arms are secured to a bracket-plate 43. As illustrated, the slide-rod 40 is slotted, as shown at 44, and guided by a pin 45, extending through the slot; but, if preferred, the rod 40 may be round or of other shape and made to simply slide through the arms 42, or it may be guided in anysuitable Way. The slide-rod 40 has a lug 24 which engages the cam 22, this cam being arranged and operated precisely as already described. It will be seen that in this form of device when the weight is released the dropping of the weight will act on the cable 38 and spool 35, so as to break or release the key 35, turn the valvestem, and close the valve. It is evident, there fore, that the key 35 may be made of any soft or frangible material which will break or collapse under the tension of the weight suddenly thrown on it.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a cable 38 instead of the cord 38, which runs over guide-pulleys 30 and is connected to the arm 48 of a balance-valve, this arm being arranged in the customary way, having a weight at one end and pivoted at the other to a bracket 49 of the valve 46, and the valve-stem 47 is connected, as usual, to the arm 48. The valve may be free to work, as usual, and the cable 38 may be connected, as shown in Fig. 3, to suitable weights, so that when the weight is dropped the arm 48 will be lifted and the valve 46 of the pipe 11 opened. This illustrates the fact that my improved mechanism can be made to either open or close the valve, as circumstances may require.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a steam-valve 50 of a common type arranged in a pipe 11, and the valve is adapted to be moved by a steamoperated piston, the steam being supplied by the pipes 51 and 52, the latter having a handoperated valve therein and the former having a valve 52, the stem 53 of which is connected to the cord 48, which is arranged as already described, and so when pressure is applied to pull the cord 38 the valve 52 is opened and steam admitted to the valve 50, so as to work the piston and close the valve.

In Fig. 6 I have shown my invention applied to an ordinary Corliss type of enginegovernor 54, and, as illustrated, the governorrod is connected with a lever 55, which is normally depressed by a weight 56 and which may be connected with the chain 38, like that already described, and controlled by a pushbutton and the armature and magnet mechanism referred to, so that by releasing the weight 41, as heretofore described, the lever will be lifted sufficiently to depress the governor-rod and close the steam-valve. This device, as here shown, can also work as a speed-limit, andthe lever 55 may be controlled by the rock arm 57 and rods 58, connected with it.

These several modifications make it clear that my improved mechanism can be conveniently adapted to various pipes and valves to operate them, and while I have shown electrically-operated mechanism forreleasing the weight still Ido not limit my invention thereto, although the electric mechanism is preferably employed, but the latch 29 may be released bya cord or other mechanical device, if preferred. It will also be understood that the guide-rods referred to can be guided in any convenient way and that springs can, as usual, be substituted for weights, if preferred.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination with a valve and a weighted slide-rod operativelyconnected with the valve, of a tilting check connected to the slide-rod to prevent its movement, a swinging locking-arm engaging and securing the said check, and a latch connected with the arm and adapted by its release to free the arm and check, thus permitting the sliding of the rod, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the valve, of the movable slide-rod normally moved in one direction, a tilting check to prevent such movement of the rod, a locking-arm to hold the check against the movement of the rod, and electrically-operated means forreleasing the said locking-arm and permitting the movement of the check and slide-rod.

3. The combination with the rotary valvestem, the slide-rod normally moved in one direction, a stop for the slide-rod, a cable connection between the slide-rod and valve-stem, means for releasing the stop, and a checking device for the valve-stem, said device being arranged to be released by the releasing of the slide-rod and the movement of the latter.

4. The combination with the rotary valvestem and the slide-rod normally moved in one direction, of a releasable checking device for the slide-rod, acable connection between the slide-rod and the Valve-stem, and a frangible or collapsible connection between the valve stem and an adjacent fixture, said connection being of a nature to be broken by the releasing of the slide-rod and the movement of the latter.

ALBERT NATHAN LOCKE.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH SHAY, FRANK E. PHILLIrs. 

